Frank Lampard has called on the leadership of Chelsea to exercise ‘patience’ with Enzo Maresca, encouraging them to give him time to further the ‘positive’ groundwork established by his predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino.
Following Pochettino’s unexpected exit from Stamford Bridge at the season’s close, Chelsea secured the services of Maresca, the manager who led Leicester City to Championship glory, with a five-year contract.
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Despite a challenging start that saw Chelsea hovering in the middle of the league standings for a significant portion of the 2023-24 season, they managed to rally and win their final five matches.
This late surge propelled them to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, ensuring their participation in European competition.
Pochettino was anticipated to continue his tenure and capitalize on the team’s late-season momentum, but after discussions with the club’s executives, the Argentine chose to part ways with the club.
With Maresca now at the helm as Chelsea’s sixth managerial change in as many years, the club’s owners are hopeful that he will steer the team back to the pinnacle of success, aiming for major silverware after two consecutive seasons finishing outside the Champions League spots.
Asked about Maresca’s appointment and the style of play at Chelsea, Lampard told talkSPORT: ‘It was good to see a positive end to the season.
‘I was there at the back-end of the previous season and I knew it was going to be a tough build and a tough ask because of where the club was at and the distance now to the top clubs.
‘And I think there’s still a gap so you need to be patient and give the new manager the chance to do his work, assess the squad, maybe affect the squad and bring players in.
‘We’ll see how they go next year but they definitely finished on a positive note which was good to see. We’ll see what happens at the start of the season now.’
Lampard, who is considered Chelsea’s greatest ever player, has been out of work since his second spell in charge at the West London side came to an end this time last year.
The 45-year-old, who has also managed Everton and Derby County, says he is ‘ready’ for a return to football management, having rejected offers over the past 12 months.
‘I’d like to find the right opportunity,’ he said when asked about his own job prospects. ‘I’ve enjoyed the break because football management takes over your life.
‘Some opportunities have come my way that didn’t feel right for whatever reason but I feel ready now, we’ll see what opportunities come up because I love the work and I love what I do.’
Lampard is managing England with his uncle Harry Redknapp for Sunday’s charity match against Soccer Aid World XI for UNICEF.
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